Ferrari leaves the qualifying session at Silverstone for the 2025 Formula 1 British Grand Prix with a bitter taste, as the team fell short of expectations after looking like serious contenders for pole position throughout free practice. The SF-25 had shown excellent pace in all three practice sessions, raising hopes for a front-row start. However, in the crucial final minutes of Q3, the performance dropped off, disappointing both drivers and fans alike.
Scuderia Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur offered a candid explanation for the team’s underwhelming result, clarifying that the problem this time was not the car, but the drivers.
Once again, Ferrari’s pattern repeated: strong performances in Q1 and Q2, followed by a step backward in Q3. Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc had looked capable of challenging McLaren and Max Verstappen early on, but when it came to the final grid positions, they were both outqualified not only by the Red Bulls and McLarens, but also by George Russell’s Mercedes-AMG.
The best time set by a Ferrari car was a 1:25.095, recorded by car #44 driven by Lewis Hamilton, which earned him fifth place on the starting grid. Charles Leclerc, in car #16, will start right behind in sixth position.
So what exactly happened to the car in Q3? Why did the performance dip after such promising pace earlier in the weekend? Speaking to SkySport F1 Italy, Frédéric Vasseur provided an honest assessment: “The car was competitive across all three qualifying segments. Lewis was about one-tenth ahead of Oscar Piastri up until the final corners, but he lost it all there. Obviously, having an advantage is useless if you don’t carry it across the finish line. The others simply did a better job once again — they put it all together.” – the French manager pointed out.
When asked whether there was a technical issue or setup problem, Fred Vasseur was clear:
“What problem did we have? Honestly, nothing major. A few weekends ago, the issue was the car. This time, it wasn’t. The two drivers made mistakes. Charles, for example, lost significant time in Turn 1 and again in Turn 17. Without those errors, we would’ve been fighting for the front rows.”
Despite the setback, Ferrari’s pace earlier in the weekend suggests that the team could still be competitive in the race — provided both drivers manage to execute cleanly when it matters most.
